Talking Pools Podcast

Rudy Stankowitz
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If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home. Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.  Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day.  And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.  Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster.  That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road. If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird. 

  1. 4 hr ago

    Reflecting Absence: The Engineering Behind the 9/11 Memorial Pools

    Ask a question here Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, this special episode of the Talking Pools Podcast is presented without commercial interruption. Rudy Stankowitz remembers the 2,977 people murdered that day, the passengers and crews who fought back, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the survivors and recovery workers who carried the physical and emotional consequences home with them. The episode then examines Reflecting Absence, the two enormous memorial pools built within the footprints of the former World Trade Center towers. From nearly 1,400 feet of precision waterfall weir and more than a million gallons of water to thousands of granite panels, extensive automation, and demanding overnight maintenance, Rudy explores the extraordinary engineering required to make the machinery disappear so the meaning can remain. This episode doesn't reduce sacred ground to pumps, hydraulics, and water treatment. It is a pool professional’s appreciation of the architects, engineers, fabricators, operators, and maintenance crews whose work protects the dignity of one of America’s most important memorials. In This Episode: Remembering the victims, heroes, survivors, and recovery workers of September 11The meaning behind Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s Reflecting AbsenceHow the massive waterfall weirs were adjusted to within one-sixteenth of an inchWhy published pumping and circulation figures must be interpreted carefullyThe difference between water-effect flow and treatment flowMore than 1,000 monitored operating points working behind the scenesThe challenge of maintaining dark granite beneath 400 surrounding treesWhy mock-ups, tolerances, automation, and maintenance access matterHow engineering and maintenance preserve the memorial’s intended experienceTwo pools. Nearly two acres. More than a million gallons of water. Thousands of names. Today, we remember. #September11 #NeverForget #911Memorial #ReflectingAbsence #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolProfessionals #AquaticEngineering #WaterFeatureDesign Music: We the People, written and performed by Alesandra Rosette https://youtu.be/AOV70hNcajI?si=1j1f9k2IizozsCQc Here are the official archived transcripts for all three presidential speeches used in the episode: President George W. Bush — Remarks to the Nation from Ellis Island, September 11, 2002 Source of the “September 11, 2001 will always be a fixed point in the life of America” passage. President Barack Obama — National September 11 Memorial Museum Dedication, May 15, 2014 Source of the passage about standing “in the footprints of two mighty towers, graced by the rush of eternal waters.” President Donald Trump — Flight 93 National Memorial Address, September 11, 2020 Source of the passage honoring the 40 passengers and crew who “rose up, took charge, made their stand.” Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Reflecting Absence: The Engineering Behind the 9/11 Memorial Pools

  2. 1 day ago

    Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water

    Ask a question here This week on Thursdays with Wayne and Steve, Wayne climbs back onto his favorite soapbox: your skimmer is not a chemical-dispensing system. The guys break down the risks of feeding acid, calcium chloride, chlorine tablets, and other products through the skimmer—and discuss the limited situations where manufacturer directions may call for it. Steve also speaks with Pat from the California Pool Association about liability coverage for residential, commercial, and high-end aquatic facilities. They examine diving boards, slides, expensive equipment, property-damage extensions, revenue audits, and why landing a massive commercial account may require another conversation with your insurance agent. Then, a pool inspection involving five plaster defects exposes a much larger problem: calcium hardness at 750 ppm, corrected alkalinity at 60 ppm, and a service professional who had not tested calcium in more than a year. It is a reminder that clear water, loyal customers, and weekly visits do not prove a pool is being properly managed. Wayne and Steve also discuss: Why chlorine tablets should never be placed in a skimmerSafer ways to introduce powdered chemicalsUsing skimmer socks for cyanuric acidLiability exclusions involving diving boards and slidesCoverage for property you are actively working onInsurance considerations when pursuing large commercial accountsWhy a complete water analysis matters during every inspectionThe importance of periodically testing calcium hardness, CYA, and TDSEducating clients before assumptions become expensive problemsDefining a clear scope of work for commercial facilitiesWhy great pool service also requires communication and hospitalityThe bottom line: follow proper chemical procedures, know exactly what your insurance covers, test before reaching conclusions, and never assume the person who has maintained a pool for years has maintained it correctly. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water

  3. 2 days ago

    Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

    Ask a question here Natalie Hood welcomes 2026 Top Ten Pool Industry Mentor Peter Wiedermann for a conversation about his 31 years in the swimming pool industry, the people who shaped his career, and the technicians he helped develop along the way. Peter explains why a mentor should build independence rather than dependence, why trust is essential, and why challenging someone’s thinking is sometimes the greatest help a mentor can provide. He also shares how recognizing burnout led him away from daily pool work and toward business networking and teaching people to use artificial intelligence more effectively. The conversation then turns to AI myths: whether it will replace pool professionals, why ChatGPT should never be mistaken for an expert, the danger of entering sensitive information into unsecured systems, and why every AI-generated answer still requires a knowledgeable human in the loop. Peter also explains why using AI resembles servicing a swimming pool—both involve complex systems, disciplined methods, and potentially serious consequences when the fundamentals are ignored. Plus, Peter reveals his preferred pizza, the superpowers society desperately needs, and exactly how he plans to embarrass his children if he wins the Mentor of the Year championship belt. In This Episode: What effective mentorship looks likeThe difference between training and mentoringWhy arrogance prevents professional growthDeveloping technicians who can think for themselvesRecognizing burnout and changing directionHow AI can support pool businessesWhy AI cannot replace experience and judgmentProtecting customer and business informationKeeping the human in the loopWhy strong industry standards and education matter#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PeterWiedermann #PoolIndustryMentor #PoolProfessionals #ArtificialIntelligence #PoolService #IndustryEducation #Mentorship #BusinessGrowth Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Mentorship, AI, and Common Sense with Peter Wiedermann

  4. 4 days ago

    Training Today Builds a Stronger Pool Industry Tomorrow

    Ask a question here Hiring new employees is only the beginning. If pool and spa businesses want knowledgeable technicians, loyal teams, confident customers, and fewer unqualified operators dragging down the trade, they must invest in professional development. On this episode of Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury, Nick Day, and Shane Sneddon welcome Rachel, General Manager of IR Learning—soon to return to the name SPASA Training—to discuss the education and qualifications available to pool and spa professionals across Australia and New Zealand. The group explores Recognition of Prior Learning, competency conversations, transferable skills, online education, industry-specific qualifications, and why experienced technicians may already possess much of the evidence needed to become formally qualified. They also discuss the responsibility carried by pool professionals. Today’s technicians must understand water chemistry, hydraulics, electrical and plumbing systems, safety, automation, customer service, and business operations—yet the trade continues fighting for the recognition and funding it deserves. Training your employees is not simply an investment in them. Better-trained people provide better service, inspire greater customer confidence, strengthen staff retention, and build a better business. Topics discussed include:  The transition from IR Learning back to SPASA Training  The Four Pillars of Pool Care training series  Recognition of Prior Learning for experienced technicians  Why competency conversations are not traditional exams  Turning everyday jobsite photos and videos into qualification evidence  How skills from sales, safety, and other industries may transfer  Building long-term career pathways within the pool and spa industry  Training opportunities for Australian and New Zealand professionals  Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service  Pool building, retail, business, leadership, safety-barrier, and aquatic-operator training  Why professional qualifications help separate legitimate businesses from industry cowboys  The continuing push for trade recognition, licensing, and training funding Learn more about available courses and qualifications at IRLearning.com This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, giving pool professionals the tools to operate smarter, more efficiently, and more profitably. Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Training Today Builds a Stronger Pool Industry Tomorrow

  5. 6 days ago

    Pool Remodels: What Lies Beneath the Plaster

    Ask a question here A pool remodel is rarely as simple as replacing the tile and plaster. Once the old surface comes off and the ground is opened, contractors can uncover structural cracks, deteriorated rebar, undersized plumbing, missing hydrostatic relief, unsafe electrical work, and decades of questionable shortcuts. In this bonus episode, Kelli speaks with Jose Gonzalez of Adams Pool Solutions in Pleasanton, California. Jose grew up working alongside his father in the pool industry and has spent nearly 12 years with Adams, advancing from plaster and pebble application into field management, project management, and sales. Kelli and Jose dig into what really happens during a remodel, including the hidden conditions that can add thousands of dollars to a project. They discuss structural crack repair, hydraulic upgrades, permits, waterproofing, material selection, customer education, and why thorough documentation protects both the contractor and the homeowner. Jose also shares one unforgettable discovery: full-size pool lights installed without proper niches or grounding, held in improvised cavities with plaster and silicone. The lesson is simple: a successful remodel is not about hiding old problems beneath a beautiful new finish. It is about correcting those problems and building something that will remain safe, functional, and durable for years. In This Episode  Jose’s journey from helping his father as a child to managing and selling remodel projects  The difference between resurfacing a pool and performing a complete remodel  Why structural cracks appear more frequently than many contractors expect  Three approaches to crack treatment and when each may be appropriate  How deteriorated rebar can turn a surface crack into a major structural repair  Why contractors should discuss possible change orders before demolition begins  Hidden copper lines, undersized plumbing, and other hydraulic surprises  Missing or covered hydrostatic relief systems  Why modern codes can require upgrades to older pools  The value of preconstruction equipment inspections and signed documentation  When waterproofing makes sense and when it may create bonding concerns  Why poor surface preparation can cause a new finish to delaminate  The long-term cost of cheap tile, coping, grout, and installation materials  When permits are essential and why some contractors refuse to proceed without them  Using renderings and physical samples to help homeowners visualize the finished project  Why licensed contractors, field experience, transparency, and realistic timelines matter  Jose’s advice for pool professionals entering the remodeling business Featured Guest Jose Gonzalez Adams Pool Solutions Pleasanton, California Key Takeaway A trustworthy remodel contractor does not simply deliver the cheapest version of what a homeowner requests. They expose the problems, explain the options, document the decisions, and build the pool as though it were going into their own backyard. #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolRemodel #PoolRenovation #SwimmingPools #PoolConstruction #PoolContractor #PoolProfessionals #PoolDesign #PoolSafety #AdamsPoolSolutions Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

  6. 4 Sept

    Ten Things Wrong with the Pool Industry

    Ask a question here This episode is intentionally abrasive. The pool industry wants the respect, credibility, and compensation of a skilled trade. But are we willing to establish, demand, demonstrate, and charge for skilled-trade standards? Rudy asked pool professionals what they believe is wrong with the industry, and the responses came flooding in: inadequate training, nonexistent licensing, bargain-basement pricing, oversized egos, unqualified technicians, social-media experts, bad installations, fragmented education, private equity, manufacturers selling around the trade, and customers who expect luxury service at Dollar General prices. The individual complaints may differ, but they point to the same contradiction: We demand professional respect while too often accepting mediocrity as normal. This episode examines why certification should be the beginning of professional development, not a declaration that someone never needs to learn another damn thing. Rudy challenges companies that send barely trained technicians into the field, veterans who mistake repetition for expertise, businesses that confuse pool count with profitability, and professionals who perform additional work for free and then wonder why customers do not value them. The pool industry has tremendous people, knowledge, innovation, and opportunity. What it lacks is consistent standards, clear career pathways, and enough professionals willing to say the three words most terrifying to an oversized industry ego: “I was wrong.” If the pool industry wants respect, it is time to earn the fucking thing. In This Episode Why pool service should be treated as a legitimate skilled tradeThe difference between inexperience and unsupervised incompetenceWhy certification is only the beginning of professional developmentHow fragmented education leaves new technicians without a clear career pathWhy decades of repetition do not necessarily equal decades of experienceHow confidence and social-media visibility get mistaken for competenceWhy pool service companies chronically undervalue their workThe difference between revenue, profitability, growth, and craftsmanshipWhy staying small does not mean failingThe true cost behind professional equipment installation and serviceHow manufacturers, big-box retailers, franchises, and private equity affect the tradeWhy customer boundaries and clearly defined service agreements matterThe responsibilities companies, employees, customers, and professionals owe one anotherWhat the pool industry must do if it genuinely wants professional respectMemorable Line “The pool industry does not have a shortage of opportunity. It has a shortage of consistent standards and an oversupply of confidence.”#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolIndustry #PoolService #SwimmingPools #PoolProfessionals #PoolEducation #SkilledTrades #WaterChemistry #PoolBusiness #ProfessionalStandards Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Ten Things Wrong with the Pool Industry

  7. 3 Sept

    Selling Your Pool Business? Protect Yourself Before You Sign

    Ask a question here Private equity has entered the pool industry, and companies looking to acquire thousands of service accounts are knocking on the doors of independent pool professionals. But what happens when they knock on yours? In this Insurance Interlude, Steve Sherwood and Pat Grignon discuss what pool company owners need to consider before selling their business, route, or customer accounts. Steve shares his own experience with an acquisition offer and explains why a bigger salary was not enough to convince him to surrender the freedom he spent a decade building. Pat breaks down several important issues that can follow a sale, including tail coverage, prior claims, non-compete agreements, non-solicitation clauses, and the danger of signing a contract without experienced legal representation. Selling the business may end your ownership, but it does not automatically eliminate your exposure. A claim connected to work performed before the sale could surface afterward. Depending on the policies and purchase agreement involved, the seller may be required to obtain several years of tail coverage. The buyer may also restrict where the seller can work, what services they can provide, and whether they can contact former customers or employees. That means the contract could affect far more than the final purchase price. Pat’s strongest advice is simple: hire an attorney experienced in business acquisitions. Not your uncle who handles divorces. Not your buddy who once fought a traffic ticket. Hire someone who understands deals and can identify exactly where the buyer is receiving the wins while the seller assumes the risk. In This Episode Why private equity is targeting pool service companiesSteve’s experience receiving an acquisition offerWhy a higher salary may not replace the freedom of ownershipWhat pool company owners should do before considering a saleHow tail coverage may protect against claims reported after closingThe difference between occurrence-based and claims-made coverageWho typically pays for tail coverageWhy tail coverage can be surprisingly expensiveHow non-compete and non-solicitation clauses differRestrictions that could prevent you from returning to the pool industryWhy selling your route does not necessarily end your liabilityThe importance of carefully reviewing every restrictive covenantWhy every seller needs an experienced acquisition attorneyHow to avoid accepting a one-sided purchase agreementThe Bottom Line Do not become hypnotized by the purchase price. Before selling the business you spent years building, determine what liabilities remain, what insurance must stay in place, what professional activities will be restricted, and what happens if you later regret the deal. Get the insurance advice. Get the legal advice. Read the contract. Then read it again. This episode is intended for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Laws, policy terms, and enforceability vary by jurisdiction and circumstance. Consult qualified legal and insurance professionals before selling a business. #TalkingPoolsPodcast #InsuranceInterlude #PoolBusiness #PoolService #PrivateEquity #BusinessAcquisition #SellingABusiness #PoolRoute #TailCoverage #BusinessInsurance #RiskManagement #PoolProfessionals #CaliforniaPoolAssociation #SteveSherwood #PatGrignon Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Selling Your Pool Business? Protect Yourself Before You Sign

  8. 2 Sept

    Calcium Nodules, Mentorship, and 50 Years of Pool Industry Wisdom with Jerry Wallace

    Ask a question here What does nearly 50 years in the swimming pool industry teach you? According to Jerry Wallace, there are no shortcuts, you never stop learning, and sometimes you need to show up with a rolling suitcase full of textbooks. Natalie Hood sits down with Jerry Wallace, president of Swim Chem and one of the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Top Ten Pool Industry Mentors. Jerry shares how he entered the family business as a teenager, the mentors who shaped his career, and why mentoring is about leaving the industry better than you found it. Then Jerry puts his decades of water chemistry, plaster, and expert-witness experience to work busting some persistent myths about calcium nodules. Are they caused by excessive calcium hardness? Are they simply another form of scale? Can adjusting the water chemistry stop them? Jerry explains why calcium nodules are typically associated with voids, delamination, pinholes, or cracks beneath the plaster surface, not a pool professional’s failure to maintain the water. His message to service professionals is blunt: educate yourself, document your work, demand an explanation, and stop allowing people to steamroll you. Jerry also discusses why manufacturers need to listen more closely to service professionals, what younger professionals bring to the industry, and the three groups every successful business must protect before looking at the profit-and-loss statement: family, employees, and customers. And, because this is Talking Pools, Natalie settles the critically important question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza. In This Episode  How Jerry entered the pool industry at age 16  The mentors who helped shape his career  Why mentorship is about life lessons, not merely technical knowledge  How to recognize when someone is no longer coachable  Why there are no shortcuts to long-term success  The difference between calcium scale and calcium nodules  Why high calcium hardness does not selectively create isolated nodules  How voids, delamination, cracks, and pinholes contribute to nodule formation  Why changing the water chemistry treats the symptom, not the underlying problem  How service professionals can defend themselves against unsupported blame  Why pool professionals must become experts in their trade  What manufacturers misunderstand about real-world equipment retrofits  Why the industry needs stronger communication between engineers and field professionals  What younger generations are bringing to the pool industry  The three priorities Jerry’s father used to measure a successful year  Jerry’s controversial but unwavering defense of pineapple on pizza Jerry’s Message to Pool Professionals Do not assume a calcium nodule is your fault simply because someone points at the water chemistry. Test the water, investigate the surface, document the evidence, ask for the actual mechanism, and make the person assigning blame show their work. If you are going to work as a pool service professional, become an expert and stand up for yourself. Nobody else is going to do it for you. #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolIndustry #PoolService #SwimmingPools #PoolChemistry #CalciumNodules #PoolPlaster #Mentorship #PoolProfessionals #WaterChemistry #PoolEducation #SwimChem #JerryWallace #NatalieHood #MythbustingWednesday Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: talkingpools@gmail.com

    Calcium Nodules, Mentorship, and 50 Years of Pool Industry Wisdom with Jerry Wallace
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About

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home. Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.  Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day.  And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.  Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster.  That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road. If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird. 

Information

  • Creator
    Rudy Stankowitz
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1k
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Pools Podcast
  • Show Website
    Talking Pools Podcast

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